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Financial Aid catches up to student demands

Director of Financial Aid Ken Grugel reviews financial aid applications in Egbert Hall. Rachel Farkas / The Clarion Call

Clarion, Pa – Multiple unforeseen problems were responsible for the delay of financial aid to thousands of Clarion University students.

According to Director of Financial Aid Ken Grugel and Dean of Enrollment Management William Bailey, a change in software at the Financial Aid Office and a
higher volume of private student loans made the delays unavoidable.

“I would have to say this was the ‘perfect storm.’” Grugel said.

Clarion’s Financial Aid Office switched to Peoplesoft software over the summer for the management of students’ loans and grants.

Grugel said the new software is more user-friendly, but that more time was needed to make data entry automatic.

More than 5,000 students’ tax and loan information had to be input manually, Grugel said.

Grugel teamed up with Bailey and the Admissions Office to share the labor.

Bailey said both offices have been working more than 40 hours a week for months to get caught up.

“Implementation of a new system is a challenge,” Bailey said.

Grugel said Clarion University’s Computing Services is working on programming to redevelop the certification system’s automation.

Grugel said the increase in tuition has driven more people to draw loans from banks and private lenders when grants won’t cover college costs.

“The number of private loans and Parent Plus loans have increased,” Grugel said, “and for the last seven to 10 years, the certification function for those loans
has been fully automated.”

As of Oct. 19, less than 140 student files remain to be processed.

Grugel said he hopes to have all the remaining students’ accounts reviewed, certified and posted within 10 days.